Women Entrepreneurs Turn Kolar’s Mango Legacy Into Thriving Pickle Business

Rapid Summary

• Kolar district in Karnataka, renowned as the “mango capital,” has fostered a prosperous women-lead entrepreneurial venture focused on mango pickle production.
• India contributes nearly 40% of global mango production, with Karnataka ranking third, producing 17.95 lakh tonnes annually across approximately 1.79 lakh hectares. Kolar is a hub for mango farmers and related enterprises.
• In 2017, Rathnamma A.V., a homemaker from Srinivaspur taluk, founded Sri Vaibhava Siridhanyagala Swasahaya Sangha with an initial monthly production of just 50 kg of pickle. The unit has since scaled up to produce over 2,000 kg monthly and directly supports more than one lakh people today.
• The group comprises differently-abled individuals, students from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), women farmers, and members of Self Help Groups (SHGs). Each worker earns ₹15,000 or more per month now compared to zero income previously for many members.
• United Way Bengaluru (NGO) boosted the initiative in 2019 by providing support through Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs), and training programs.
• The pickles are made following Food Safety and Standards Authority of India norms to ensure quality standards while promoting local entrepreneurship aspirations.
• Vaibhava has trained over hundreds of SHGs in skills like marketing and branding while earning recognition as the “Best WomenS Self Help Group” by Plan India in 2023.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The story from Kolar reflects how grassroots initiatives can transform seasonal agricultural outputs into sustained income sources through collaboration among SHGs, FPOs, NGOs like UWBe, and government departments such as horticulture agencies. By leveraging India’s massive share in global mango production combined with locally driven market integration strategies here exemplary highlights scale ladders inclusivity tackling previously untapped earnings systematic community building longstanding models